OT: Another quiz

The following were taken from a 5th grade textbook published in 1909:
* How many pounds of sugar, at $0.06 a pound, can be exchanged for 9 pounds
of butter at $0.32 a pound, and 12 dozen eggs at $0.18 a dozen?
* A lady sold some butter at $0.32 a pound and with the sum received bought
16 yards of cloth at $0.90 a yard, 4 hats at $3.00 each, 4 ties at $0.24
each, and 4 pairs of gloves at $0.55 each. How many pounds of butter did she
sell?
* $65 is the value of 5/6ths of an acre of land. At this rate, how many
acres of land can be bought for $6396?
* How many pecks are there in 17.5 bushels?
* A market gardener bought 20 yards of carpet at $1.25 a yard and paid for
it in potatoes at $0.05 a quart. How many bushels were required.
Contrast the above with today's typical 5th grade test:
* How much is 2 plus 2 (Hint: the answer is not a color)?

Probably not in TX. Seems like most of the folks who think kids today
are dumber than dirt are from TX.
I wish some youngsters from TX would weigh in so we could see if it is
true down there or if it is just the old farts over-compensating.
Jim

In my view, neither one.
Texas ranks very low in high school completion and other measures of
academic excellence. This unfortunate situation is probably because a
significant number of school-age children are from aliens' families.

In fifth grade I was learning simple arithmetic in bases up to 32 (sixth grade
was more of the same but added more complex arithmetic like long division). Of
course I didn't use it again until college (but have pretty much every day
since).

It's called hyperbole, that is, exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis.
Regrettably, you did not learn that in your high school English class.

Er, no. The definition of "peckerhead" does not include doing "inexplicable
things." Regrettably, you did not learn to use a dictionary in the 9th
grade.

[snip syllabus]
Could well be true, and I thank you for the list. Regrettably, in Chicago
very many students do not REACH the fifth grade inasmuch as they turn 17 and
can quit school altogether.
I thank you, nevertheless, for your contribution to this thread.

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